Megaproject set to slash travel times across Brisbane

Sports fans, commuters, health worker and students are ready to reap the benefits of a new-look rail network. FIND OUT HOW

Cricket and AFL fans will be able to get from Brisbane’s city centre to the Gabba in a matter of minutes when Cross River Rail is up and running.

The transformational project is expected to make it easier and faster for commuters to get around the CBD and suburbs, with better access to stadiums at Milton and Woolloongabba as trains travel at up to 80km/h under the Brisbane River and city.

It will be welcome news for sporting crowds who just enjoyed one of its busiest four days of the year with the women’s State of Origin, NRL Magic Round and Brisbane Racing Club meeting at Doomben racecourse.

Cross River Rail services are expected to start in 2026 with officials pledging commuters, health workers and students will also reap the benefits of the new-look network.

Transport Minister Bart Mellish said Cross River Rail would transform how people travelled to, from and through Brisbane in the future.

A lifestyle render of Cross River Rail’s Roma Street station.

“With new stations in convenient locations, Cross River Rail will make it easier to get to the footy at the Gabba, shopping at Queen St mall and to school or work,” he said.

“Cross River Rail is a terrific example of what we’re doing to make South East Queensland a better place to work and live.

“The new stations and tunnels will make it easier for people to get to where they are going quicker, so they can spend less time travelling and more time with loved ones.

“The megaproject is progressing really well, and when completed it will encourage more people to use public transport and help ease congestion on our roads.”

The project includes 5.9km of twin tunnels running under the river and CBD with four new underground stations at Boggo Road, Woolloongabba, Albert Street and Roma Street plus a new above-ground and open all year Exhibition station at the Brisbane Showgrounds.

Trains will be using a new digital signalling system allowing them to run closer together without compromising safety.

The new Albert Street and Woolloongabba stations will be about a two-minute train ride away from each other, while Roma Street in the city centre to the Exhibition station will take about three-and-half minutes by train. Albert Street and Roma Street stations will be connected by a train journey of about 80 seconds beneath the city.

Albert Street station, part of the Cross River Rail project, is featured in this lifestyle render.

Cross River Rail Delivery Authority chief executive Graeme Newton said it was going to completely change how people got around.

“The new stations mean people will arrive closer to their final destinations, reducing the need for them to battle inner-city traffic and hunt for parking, or to walk or use a bus or taxi to complete the final leg of their journey,” he said.

“For example, instead of being stuck in traffic on the Captain Cook Bridge, you’ll be able to travel by train up to 80km/h beneath the river to get from the middle of the city to the Gabba in a matter of minutes.

“We’re at the point in the project where our construction sites are really starting to look like train stations, which is incredibly exciting because it means the tremendous benefits Cross River Rail will bring are another step closer.”

Excavations and civil works are coming to an end with key station components such as escalators, walls, cladding and platform screen doors being installed. Canopies or roofs at the underground stations will start appearing in the coming months as the sites start to look more like completed stations from street level.

COAST-TO-COAST BENEFITS

Rail passengers on the Gold and Sunshine coasts are set to benefit from the Cross River Rail project with new stations and faster services.

Cross River Rail Delivery Authority chief executive Graeme Newton said while Cross River Rail was designed to increase the frequency of trains and provide extra options for short hops around the city, it was also the key to improving travel for commuters travelling longer distances.

Escalators being installed in the cavern at Roma Street station as part of the Cross River Rail project.

“Put simply, the second rail path at the core of the network allows for the way trains are run on the system to be untangled, and by running trains from the Gold Coast through the new tunnels and directly to the Sunshine Coast, we can run faster and more reliable express services,” he said.

“This is then augmented further with the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail and new Direct Sunshine Coast Rail projects – both of which are made feasible by Cross River Rail as a fix at the core and are now funded and moving ahead.”

New stations are being built at Pimpama, Merrimac and Hope Island.

“By providing new stations closer to where people live and more convenient stations in the inner-city, Cross River Rail will make train travel more viable, which will mean less cars on our roads,” Mr Newton said.

PLAN AHEAD PLEA TO RAIL USERS

Critical works on the Cross River Rail project, including signalling, track and overhead line works, will take place during June and July.

Track closures across the network will take place in various stages between June 15 and July 7 with Queensland Rail also undertaking station upgrades and maintenance.

On the Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines, there will be upgrades at Dutton Park, Rocklea, Yeerongpilly and Pimpama stations, and track works including signalling, cabling, overhead wiring and drainage with significant changes, including track closures, during the three-week period.

Cross River Rail work being undertaken in the Albert Street station cavern.

Weekend closures on the Cleveland line on June 15-16, June 29-30, and July 6-7 will allow Queensland Rail to undertake work at Buranda, Morningside and Lindum stations and maintenance.

Overhead wiring, track and electrical works will take place on the Airport, Sunshine Coast/Caboolture, Redcliffe Peninsula, Doomben and Shorncliffe lines from June 29 to July 7.

Cross River Rail Delivery Authority chief executive Graeme Newton said the track closures would allow crews to undertake an incredible amount of work safely and efficiently in the rail corridor.

“While the majority of work will take place during the quieter school holiday period, we do appreciate some people will have to change how they get around, so we thank people in advance for their patience,” he said.

Authorities are encouraging passengers to plan ahead. Extra buses have been added and railbus routes adjusted. Visit translink.com.au or call 131 230.